Bay vs. Bray — What's the Difference?

A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or even another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight.

To utter the loud, harsh cry of a donkey.

A body of water partially enclosed by land but with a wide mouth, affording access to the sea

To sound loudly and harshly

An area of land, such as an arm of prairie partially enclosed by woodland, that resembles in shape or formation a partially enclosed body of water.

To emit (an utterance or a sound) loudly and harshly.

(Architecture) A part of a building marked off by vertical elements, such as columns or pilasters

To crush and pound to a fine consistency, as in a mortar.

A bay window.

To spread (ink) thinly over a surface.

An opening or recess in a wall.

The loud, harsh cry of a donkey.

A section or compartment, as in a service station, barn, or aircraft, that is set off for a specific purpose

A sound resembling that of a donkey

A sickbay.

(intransitive) Of an animal (now chiefly of animals related to the ass or donkey, and the camel): to make its cry.

(Computers) A drive bay.

To make a harsh, discordant sound like a donkey's bray.

A reddish brown.

(transitive) To make or utter (a shout, sound, etc.) discordantly, loudly, or in a harsh and grating manner.

A reddish-brown animal, especially a horse having a black mane and tail.

To crush or pound, especially using a pestle and mortar.

A deep, prolonged bark, such as the sound made by hounds.

To hit (someone or something).

The position of one cornered by pursuers and forced to turn and fight at close quarters

The cry of an animal, now chiefly that of animals related to the ass or donkey, or the camel.

The position of having been checked or held at a distance

(by extension) Any discordant, grating, or harsh sound.

See laurel.

To pound, beat, rub, or grind small or fine.

Any of certain other trees or shrubs with aromatic foliage, such as the California laurel.

To utter a loud, harsh cry, as an ass.

A crown or wreath made especially of the leaves and branches of the laurel and given as a sign of honor or victory.

To make a harsh, grating, or discordant noise.

Often bays Honor; renown.

To make or utter with a loud, discordant, or harsh and grating sound.

Reddish-brown

The harsh cry of an ass; also, any harsh, grating, or discordant sound.

To utter a deep, prolonged bark.

A bank; the slope of a hill; a hill. See Brae, which is now the usual spelling.

To pursue or challenge with barking

The cry of an ass

To express by barking or howling

Braying characteristic of donkeys

To bring to bay

Reduce to small pieces or particles by pounding or abrading;

(obsolete) A berry.

Laugh loudly and harshly

, a tree or shrub of the family Lauraceae, having dark green leaves and berries.

Bay leaf, the leaf of this or certain other species of tree or shrub, used as a herb.

The leaves of this shrub, woven into a garland used to reward a champion or victor; hence, fame, victory.

A tract covered with bay trees.

A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeche in Mexico.

(geography) A body of water (especially the sea) more-or-less three-quarters surrounded by land.

A bank or dam to keep back water.

An opening in a wall, especially between two columns.

An internal recess; a compartment or area surrounded on three sides.

The distance between two supports in a vault or building with a pitched roof.

(nautical) Each of the spaces, port and starboard, between decks, forward of the bitts, in sailing warships.

(rail transport) A bay platform.

A bay window.

The excited howling of dogs when hunting or being attacked.

(by extension) The climactic confrontation between hunting-dogs and their prey.

(figuratively) A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.

A brown colour/color of the coat of some horses.

A horse of this color.

(intransitive) To howl.

(transitive) To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay.

(transitive) To pursue noisily, like a pack of hounds.

Of a reddish-brown colour (especially of horses).

Reddish brown; of the color of a chestnut; - applied to the color of horses.

An inlet of the sea, usually smaller than a gulf, but of the same general character.

A small body of water set off from the main body; as a compartment containing water for a wheel; the portion of a canal just outside of the gates of a lock, etc.

A recess or indentation shaped like a bay.

A principal compartment of the walls, roof, or other part of a building, or of the whole building, as marked off by the buttresses, vaulting, mullions of a window, etc.; one of the main divisions of any structure, as the part of a bridge between two piers.

A compartment in a barn, for depositing hay, or grain in the stalks.

A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeachy Bay.

A berry, particularly of the laurel.

The laurel tree (Laurus nobilis). Hence, in the plural, an honorary garland or crown bestowed as a prize for victory or excellence, anciently made or consisting of branches of the laurel.

A tract covered with bay trees.

Deep-toned, prolonged barking.

A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.

A bank or dam to keep back water.

To bark, as a dog with a deep voice does, at his game.

To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay; as, to bay the bear.

To bathe.

To dam, as water; - with up or back.

An indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

The sound of a hound on the scent

Small Mediterranean evergreen tree with small blackish berries and glossy aromatic leaves used for flavoring in cooking; also used by ancient Greeks to crown victors

A compartment on a ship between decks; often used as a hospital;

A compartment in an aircraft used for some specific purpose;

A small recess opening off a larger room

A horse of a moderate reddish-brown color

Utter in deep prolonged tones

Bark with prolonged noises, of dogs

(used of animals especially a horse) of a moderate reddish-brown color